Travel buddies: Sam, Hanna, Tonyo, and Lolo Ross (Hanna's dad)
I (*hanna) wanted to go to the beach for my 32nd birthday, and my first choice was Laiya, Batangas. Sam suggested Puerto Galera because he liked the experience we had there a few years back. We also liked the idea of putting Tonyo on a boat, so PG eventually won :). Puerto Galera was one of the "it" destinations of my youth. For a young college student, with limited allowance (and parental consent), Puerto Galera was already a big leap. I've been back to PG twice since college. One trip as part of Ayala Foundation, where we brought books and organized a storytelling day for the Iraya Mangyan community in Talipanan. The last trip was with my Mom, Dad, and Sam (this was pre-Tonyo).
Going to Puerto Galera gives the illusion of going "off-the-grid," while still staying close to home - mainly because of the 45-minute boat ride from the Batangas City pier. It is a good weekend escape, because you won't have to worry about missing flights. Also, as my Sri Lankan colleague describes it, "Puerto Galera is perfect because you get the best of both worlds, the beach on one side, and turn a little bit and you can already hike the mountains"
 |
| White Beach. |
A quick text message to Ms Paz (of Ayala Foundation, she handles the Iraya Mangyan project in PG) gave me access to Tamaraw Beach Resort. This is a resort beside the famous White Beach (albeit separated by a rocky walk). Since we were traveling with Tonyo, and not really crowd-lovers, we always choose the quieter path.
Getting There
We came from Laguna, so driving to Batangas City Pier was a breeze through the Star Tollway. You can easily bring your vehicle and park at the Park & Sail by the terminals. Just be sure to be early! We arrived past 10 AM and it was packed! Cars were parked on sidewalks, pavements, etc - utilizing every bit of available space. We were told to go find parking outside the port area and just ride a tricycle going back.
Good thing Sam practiced his PR skills with the Coast Guard base, and we were able to park near the headquarters. Yay!
There are two main operators going to PG, Father & Son and Minolo. We bought a round-trip ticket (around Php 420 each, including terminal fees. Tonyo still traveled for free!) from Father and Son Shipping Lines, just because they had the earlier departure time.
PG has 4 major ports of entry (Sabang, White Beach, Muelle, Balatero), so make sure you pick the one that's best for your destination. We were advised by Tamaraw Beach Resort to get off at Muelle Pier.
Our hotel: Tamaraw Beach Resort, Aninuan Beach
http://www.tamarawbeachresort.com/
 |
| It's a weirdly shaped pool. This was the view from our room on the 4th floor. |
How it has grown! A few years back, Tamaraw Beach Resort only had one hotel building, and a native hut-style restaurant. Today, it has expanded and has a massive lobby, conference halls, cottages, tennis courts, a basketball court and an infinity pool! As far as beaches go, I am a lover of quaint and simple, so I couldn't help but wish that they didn't grow that much. But hey, must be good business!
The crowd was a mixture of weekenders (Filipinos) and a few foreigners who looked like they've been there for quite a while. I believe it's good value for money. Our room was huge, with 2 double beds + 2 extra trundle beds - all for Php 3,000.00 + free breakfast for 3.
It has a TV, a small fridge, a spacious bathroom, a dresser, and a closet. Basic, clean, bright (yellow walls), and you spend most of the time outside anyway! The hotel has 4 stories (no elevator!) , and has a hot and cold water dispenser on the 2nd floor (almost always empty because of the volume of visitors).
Food was okay and servings were big. One order of sinigang for less than Php 300 could easily feed three adults. For the money you pay, the buffet breakfast is okay - but don't expect a wide range of choices. I just wish they opened the buffet earlier than 7:30 am, so people can get a head start for any other activity they have planned.
Tip: If you want the crowd and nightlife, find lodging in White Beach! There are more lodging choices there, as well as food and music places. Crossing the rocks from Tamaraw to White Beach can be quite challenging, and can be dangerous at night. Tricycle fare is expensive, Tamaraw-White Beach is Php 100.00 , one way! So plan well.
Up and About
We pretty much stayed close to the water during our stay, but PG also offers hiking opportunities, and I read about ATV rides, too! So check those out if those are your interests :)
For water fun, aside from the beach -- you can also experience the banana boat, jetski, fly fish, beach hopping, and snorkeling. Tamaraw Beach Resort has a glass bottomed boat that will go around the island for about 3 hours for Php 350.00 / person. I guess this was the best option for kids who are still too small for snorkeling. Plus, Tonyo still rode for free!
The scheduled departure of the boat was 8AM. I am guessing due to the late breakfast at Tamaraw, and lack of passengers, we had to wait until 9AM when the boatmen decided to release us. We were only 7 passengers in a boat that could fit around 18 people. The delay was just fine with us since we also wanted the boatmen to have good business. Lugi naman sila sa fuel!
It was the perfect party boat! The two story craft was rigged with a good audio system that blared out reggae music. Never mind the glass bottom (quite difficult to see because of the sea foam, but good enough)... the highlight of the ride was chilling out on the boat's 2nd level (with the music!).
 |
| The sea breeze ruffling through your hair, the sun kissing your skin, and the beautiful view all coming together to make a music video-ish feeling! Life is good. Haha. |
 |
| Music videos are not complete without the pretty girls. Here's my dad missing my Mom who was in the US at that time :-) |
Puerto Galera gave us a great weekend. The island is still worth visiting! For hassle free travel, just make sure you plan ahead so you can pick the lodging and activities that would suit your holiday preferences.
No comments:
Post a Comment